The Irish will make their fourth attempt to do so Saturday when they play Pittsburgh at Notre Dame Stadium.

Davie, who made his reputation as a defensive coach before assuming the top job at Notre Dame, intends to devote more time during this week's preparation to helping jump-start an offense whose battery is close to dead.

Although neither the defense nor special teams has performed spectacularly this season, it is the offense's lack of production that is most bothersome. Through three games, the Irish are averaging just 7.7 points and 211 total yards.

Those numbers need to be pumped up. Davie does not intend to take over the play-calling from offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers, but he will serve as a sounding board, much as Lou Holtz did when Holtz was the Irish head coach and Davie was his defensive coordinator.

"There were times when I encouraged Coach Holtz to come in and I bounced ideas off him," Davie said.

"I really enjoyed those sessions, just to listen to someone's perspective from the other side of the ball.

"I need to be involved with the offensive staff a little more."

The offensive staff is facing a busy week. It needs to get more production from the running game and better blocking from the offensive line, which go hand in hand.

It needs to integrate some young wideouts into an injury-riddled receiving corps. And it needs to prepare a novice quarterback, Carlyle Holiday, for his second career start.

The Irish will get some help along the offensive line. Guard Sean Milligan, who has been hampered by injuries, is expected to start against Pittsburgh. That will allow Kurt Vollers, who had been filling in at guard, to move back to his original position at right tackle.

"I think [Vollers] is much more confident at tackle," Davie said. "We had an injury to Milligan and we moved Vollers and that kind of got us a little bit off balance there."

Brennan Curtin, who filled Vollers' tackle spot, will remain part of the rotation at tackle. Although he will not start, he will be used to spell Vollers as well as left tackle Jordan Black.

More stable play from the offensive line should create some holes for tailbacks Tony Fisher and Julius Jones and buy more time for Holiday, who will be throwing to young wide receivers Omar Jenkins and Ronnie Rodamer.

As head coach, Davie says it's his responsibility to provide direction to a floundering offense.

"We have to do whatever we have to do to get our players to play better," he said.